The impact could not have been more different, though. Tuesday night's 2-1 setback to the Cincinnati Cyclones at Amway Center, ending their first-round ECHL Eastern Conference playoff series in six games, stung a lot more.

"I'm proud of every single person who came through this locker room, not only on the ice but off the ice," said Solar Bears coach Vince Williams, who plans to return with his wife to New Jersey. "I'm a competitor. My job is to win. I felt we had an opportunity to win the series. Now we have to figure out how to get through the first round."

Now that they won't play a meaningful hockey game until next regular season, the Solar Bears will have time for that, as well as to reflect on what they accomplished in their second season in the ECHL.

Williams, hired less than 11 months ago, led the Solar Bears to a 43-24-2-3 record (91 points) in the regular season, a significant increase from Orlando's 28-victory, 63-point season a year ago. Orlando earned the fourth-best record in its conference.

Success wasn't immediate, though.

In late December, Orlando was an average team. Then Mickey Lang was acquired from the Fort Wayne Komets, completely changing the Solar Bears' identity.

"I was excited when I found out I was traded to Orlando," Lang said. "I didn't know I was going to do as well as I did when I got here. I was fortunate. When you're playing with good players, it becomes easier to produce."

Lang totalled 51 points in 37 games with the Solar Bears during the regular season, scoring 27 goals, and finishing with an ECHL-high 44 goals overall. He earned league MVP honors.

A high point during the season for Lang and the Solar Bears came in February, when they propelled themselves into playoff contention with an 11-game win streak.

"I look at pockets of experience for this team,'' Williams said. "Whether it's the 11-game win streak, or that we never lost more than three games in a row, that helped us in this series. I thought our consistency was good in that regard."

That consistency was evident even as the Solar Bears, with two American Hockey League affiliates (the Iowa Wild and Toronto Marlies), endured a lack of continuity in net because of call-ups. Seven goalies made at least one start for Orlando, including John Curry (10-2, 2.66 goals-against average, .917 save percentage).

Curry eventually found his way to the NHL, playing in two games for the Minnesota Wild.

In his first professional season, goalie Christopher Gibson spent time between the Solar Bears and Marlies. Gibson, 21, returned to the Solar Bears last week, meeting them in Cincinnati for Game 5.

In two playoff starts, he went 1-1 with 77 saves and four goals surrendered.

"I was going up and down all year, and sometimes it was mentally really tough," said Gibson, who will rejoin the Marlies for their AHL playoff series against the Milwaukee Admirals. "This is a really good group of guys. Everyone got along with each other really well this season. I wish my teammates all the best of luck, and hopefully I see them again."

And why not? The Solar Bears had so many good times together this season.